Achon Uganda Children's Fundhttp://achonugandachildren.org
The Achon Uganda Children's Fund (AUCF) was established in 2007 by two-time Olympic runner Julius Achon in response to the dire situation faced by the residents of his home village in Otuke County (Orum district) in Northern Uganda.Mon, 22 Sep 2014 16:56:07 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.1Save the Date: AUCF Concert September 26 at 6:30 in Portlandhttp://achonugandachildren.org/save-the-date-aucf-concert-september-26-at-630-in-portland/
http://achonugandachildren.org/save-the-date-aucf-concert-september-26-at-630-in-portland/#commentsFri, 01 Aug 2014 16:47:21 +0000http://achonugandachildren.org/?p=895Portlanders — or anyone who can get themselves to Portland — come out to the Melody Ballroom on September 26 for the third annual Achon Uganda Children’s Fund Concert & Auction.

Legendary bluesman Lloyd Jones and beloved Portland musician Kristen Hewitt will treat concertgoers…as will AUCF: drinks are on us once you purchase your $20 ticket! This concert has become one of our biggest fundraisers and is a great way to support AUCF’s important work in Uganda — while having a great time!

]]>http://achonugandachildren.org/save-the-date-aucf-concert-september-26-at-630-in-portland/feed/3Exciting Times for AUCF!http://achonugandachildren.org/exciting-times-for-aucf/
http://achonugandachildren.org/exciting-times-for-aucf/#commentsWed, 11 Jun 2014 04:10:49 +0000http://achonugandachildren.org/?p=881Julius has just completed his spring visit to the US. He was busy while he was here!

In a little over a week, he and our Portland-based team ran from event to event throughout the Northwest, raising money and awareness of the important work AUCF is doing in Northern Uganda. Everywhere they traveled they were greeted with kindness and generosity.

Here’s a summary of the events from the last couple of weeks:

Julius and David Fee presented to the students and teachers of Portland’s Waldorf School after young student Noa Bothe, a runner and member of the Bowerman Track Club, invited them as part of his self-driven initiative to raise money for AUCF. So far he’s raised over $1,000! is competing in the BAC 5K in late June, and raising money for AUCF.

Portland-based Therapeutic Associates held a reception for staff, family and friends. Julius and David presented at this event as well — and the event raised $2,800.

The cross-country team at Lincoln High School hosted the “Achon Distance Classic,” a track meet with various distance track events, including 1 mile, 3K and 5K. High schoolers and masters, elite runners and enthusiasts all competed — and Julius competed in the 5K, taking 2nd place. (He tells us he hasn’t had time to train! Not every high school sports team conducts a service project; the ADC is a point of real pride for the team, and raised $12,000.

Julius, Angela Fee and AUCF board member Frank Weigel traveled to Seattle for a “friend-raiser” with another board member, Maureen Brotherton of the Seattle Rotary. Together these supporters contributed $1,300 to AUCF.

And in a classic, grass-roots effort, five families from Portland got together to host an old-fashioned neighborhood bake sale. They used AUCF signage to promote the event and cause, and sold homemade baked goods. Children ages 5-9 did most of the selling — which brought in $291.25, which goes a long way to the people of Otuke County.

And all the while, Jimmy and his team have been hard at work in Uganda, ensuring that this generosity makes a real impact. The clinic continues to treat dozens of patients daily, while construction of the new staff quarters is nearing the home stretch.

Thank you to AUCF’s many generous supporters in the US, Uganda, Australia and elsewhere!

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http://achonugandachildren.org/exciting-times-for-aucf/feed/0Announcing…the 2014 Achon Distance Classic!http://achonugandachildren.org/announcing-the-2014-achon-distance-classic/
http://achonugandachildren.org/announcing-the-2014-achon-distance-classic/#commentsSat, 26 Apr 2014 00:31:39 +0000http://achonugandachildren.org/?p=876Runners, lovers of running and track & field and AUCF supporters, please join us at Lincoln High School on June 1, 3:00-7:00 for the Achon Distance Classic! This unique event offers runners of all backgrounds and abilities the chance to compete in an old-fashioned, distance-focused track meet — and thanks to the Lincoln Cross-Country Team, will raise significant funds to support AUCF!

]]>http://achonugandachildren.org/announcing-the-2014-achon-distance-classic/feed/0Julius Joins the World Olympians Associationhttp://achonugandachildren.org/julius-joins-the-world-olympians-association/
http://achonugandachildren.org/julius-joins-the-world-olympians-association/#commentsFri, 11 Apr 2014 02:28:08 +0000http://achonugandachildren.org/?p=873We’re proud to share that Julius has joined the World Olympians Association, a group of current and former Olympians representing 142 countries and conducting impactful service efforts around the world. Julius’ role is President of the Uganda Olympians Association! He and the broader organization have already begun conversations about how the organization’s work might benefit the people of Northern Uganda.
]]>http://achonugandachildren.org/julius-joins-the-world-olympians-association/feed/0Thank you to Kaiser!http://achonugandachildren.org/thank-you-to-kaiser/
http://achonugandachildren.org/thank-you-to-kaiser/#commentsMon, 10 Mar 2014 14:13:34 +0000http://achonugandachildren.org/?p=859An earlier post mentioned that on our recent visit, Dr. Kevin Fee treated scores of dental patients at the Kristina Health Center, while also teaching KHC staff some key dental practices that will relieve countless local residents of debilitating pain and conditions that can severely impact their quality of life.

Thanks to a generous donation from Kaiser Permanente of Oregon, Kevin also had the opportunity to distribute toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss to his patients, and to all patients who came to the clinic. Assisted by his able staff (Jimmy and Dr. Giovanni), Kevin also held informal dental hygiene workshops at KHC — and under the mango tree in Awake Village.

Thank you Kaiser!

]]>http://achonugandachildren.org/thank-you-to-kaiser/feed/0Time at Kristina Health Centerhttp://achonugandachildren.org/time-at-kristina-health-center/
http://achonugandachildren.org/time-at-kristina-health-center/#commentsThu, 20 Feb 2014 23:59:46 +0000http://achonugandachildren.org/?p=835Our purpose in traveling to Uganda was manifold: to dedicate the James Fee Memorial Patient Ward; to observe and review performance of the Kristina Health Center and gauge the satisfaction of our staff; to communicate face-to-face with Julius, Jimmy and the team in Uganda; and to dig in and do some work, treating patients and hopefully sharing some expertise with those who would continue to do so long after we’d left.

That’s how we spent the last couple of days. Dr. Giovanni Cucchiaro, who brings a wide breadth of relevant experience in fields ranging from anesthesiology to health care in developing nations, spoke extensively with our clinic team and will soon provide an extensive report, sharing his thoughts as to how we can improve our care to the people of Otuke District. And Dr. Kevin Fee, D.D.S., treated dozens of patients, primarily extracting teeth and relieving pain, but also training our clinical staff to use the new equipment he brought to the KHC.

The Fee Family observed and met with staff and offered moral support and a bit of training on dental hygiene, while John Brant documented the experience – while also diving in and assisting whenever possible.

The photos below offer a glimpse into our time at the Kristina Health Center. We look forward to sharing more in the coming days.

]]>http://achonugandachildren.org/time-at-kristina-health-center/feed/2KHC’s Need for an Ambulance Hits Homehttp://achonugandachildren.org/khcs-need-for-an-ambulance-hits-home/
http://achonugandachildren.org/khcs-need-for-an-ambulance-hits-home/#commentsTue, 18 Feb 2014 11:58:23 +0000http://achonugandachildren.org/?p=830As we’ve recently written, our friends at the Seattle-area Rotary Clubs have funded the purchase of an ambulance that will carry patients to the Kristina Health Center from the surrounding area, and from KHC to the hospital in Lira, over 70 bumpy kilometers away.

The need is evident: patients typically arrive at the KHC by bicycle or on foot – a miserable proposition for someone who’s sick or injured. And though KHC is well-equipped and staffed by committed, well-educated medical professionals, the small facility does not perform surgery or treat the most dire cases. With the government now forgiving the taxes on the ambulance, we’ll soon have a retrofitted four-wheel drive SUV, ready to transport patients in relative comfort.

But in case that isn’t evidence enough: yesterday, while we observed operation of the clinic, Julius received a call. His father Charles Acuma was in Otuke Town, about 4 km away, and he was not well. We jumped into Julius’ car and sped into town.

Charles had walked into town on a hot day, and now was lying in the shade of an abandoned house. We walked him to the car and drove back to the village. Charles, a very tough guy, complained of chills and aches.

At KHC Charles was diagnosed with malaria and given medication. Today he is recovering at home and already feeling better.

Julius happened to be in Awake yesterday, ready for the call from his father. Had he been in Lira, or at his home six hours away in Kampala, the outcome would not likely have been such a happy one.

So now we’ve seen the value of urgent transportation to KHC as clearly as it could be shown, and are today even more appreciative of the Rotary Clubs’ – and all of our supporters’ – commitment to AUCF.

]]>http://achonugandachildren.org/khcs-need-for-an-ambulance-hits-home/feed/1Remarkable Day at the Kristina Health Centerhttp://achonugandachildren.org/remarkable-day-at-the-kristina-health-center/
http://achonugandachildren.org/remarkable-day-at-the-kristina-health-center/#commentsMon, 17 Feb 2014 03:57:48 +0000http://achonugandachildren.org/?p=814We spent yesterday in Julius’ home village of Awake, now site of the Kristina Health Center. It was a difficult yet remarkable day, one punctuated with deep sorrow, celebration and a lot of pride in all that that’s been accomplished by Julius, our dad and husband Jim, and the entire AUCF team.

We began the day touring the clinic and the new buildings, including the James Fee Memorial Patient Ward, a simple but functional new site where patients will rest and convalesce in comfort and dignity. You can see me, my mother Angela and brother David standing outside its front door in the photo below.

We took time to meet the staff, an admirably dedicated team of medical and administrative workers who work uncomplainingly all seven days most weeks. We also prepared for the next couple of days of hard work, setting up Kevin Fee’s dental clinic and determining how he will treat scores, possibly hundreds of patients. And of course we met many of the residents of Awake, from young patients to friendly young men and women preparing what would later be our celebratory meal.

By 11:00 a.m. various dignitaries had shown up: local clergy, a village leader, a district councilor and two senior Ministers of Health, one of whom reports directly to President Museveni. And slowly area residents arrived, walking or riding bicycles down the road or ambling up footpaths that lead to Awake’s central arrangement of huts and the clinic itself. At noon we thought we’d be speaking to a couple of hundred people; by 1:30 every one of our 1,500 chairs was filled.

The speeches were long but fascinating, offering a glimpse into Ugandan politics and health policy. Virtually every speaker, from Julius and his father to the local “mayor” and the Ugandan Minister of Health, spoke gratefully of the support the KHC has received from friends in the US and Australia, and spoke warmly and directly to my mom of having met Jim Fee. Brother David and I had a chance to speak — briefly! — of our appreciation of the warmth we’d received in Uganda, and of the commitment of AUCF and partner organization Love Mercy to supporting the people of surrounding Otuke District.

We broke from speeches to inspect the clinic and the new ward and kitchen (the open structure in the photo below; dozens of patients’ families will be able to cook over simple stoves there, out of the elements). Clearly the policymakers were pleased: by the end of the speeches, we’d learned that KHC had risen in status from a Class II to a Class III health center (we’re still figuring out exactly what this means); that the Ugandan government would forgive the taxes — at least $20,000 — on our new ambulance, funded generously by Seattle-area Rotary Clubs; and in a nod to our staff’s tireless efforts, that the government would help fund their salaries. Oh — and Julius was strongly urged to run for Parliament.

After our lovely meal, which featured our Ugandan friends watching and laughing as we Americans attempted to eat rice and beans with our hands, music began to play and guests began to dance. A few of us joined in at first, but soon everyone from our visiting contingent was dancing: my mom, brother and me; consulting Dr. Giovanni Cucchiaro; Uncle Kevin; and our new friend Julie Sullivan. It was joyous, and dusty, and funny, and a virtually spontaneous celebration of friendship and mutual respect.

So a day of reflection and celebration became a day of progress and redoubled support, and a chance to demonstrate — if largely with bad dancing — how much we appreciate the opportunity to continue my dad’s work, and to extend the generosity that so many of you have committed to AUCF.

]]>http://achonugandachildren.org/remarkable-day-at-the-kristina-health-center/feed/2Visiting the AUCF Homehttp://achonugandachildren.org/visiting-the-aucf-home/
http://achonugandachildren.org/visiting-the-aucf-home/#commentsSun, 16 Feb 2014 03:27:37 +0000http://achonugandachildren.org/?p=806Yesterday our little delegation — Angela, David and Kevin Fee, writer John Brant, Dr. Giovanni Cucchiaro and I — had the pleasure of visiting the Achon Uganda Children’s Fund Orphanage in Lira. There we met Jimmy Okullo, Julius’ brother, whom my dad called “the unsung hero of AUCF,” as well as his wife Florence and a number of the younger and older children; the others were at school (on a Saturday!).

Their home is very modest, but it is safe, surrounded by a high wall with razor wire, and it provides space to play, to work and to study. All of the children whom Julius found living under a bus nearly ten years ago still live at the home, including the oldest Mary, who is now studying to become a midwife, and who used her training to provide IV medication to Jimmy and Florence’s daughter Grace when she contracted pneumonia. The IV may well have saved her life, as the local hospital was extremely crowded when they sought treatment.

We will post additional updates very soon. We are very happy to be here and hope that this trip helps in some small way to move the organization’s work forward.

-Michael Fee

]]>http://achonugandachildren.org/visiting-the-aucf-home/feed/1Fee Family Headed to Uganda to Dedicate the James Fee Patient Wardhttp://achonugandachildren.org/fee-family-headed-to-uganda-to-dedicate-the-james-fee-patient-ward/
http://achonugandachildren.org/fee-family-headed-to-uganda-to-dedicate-the-james-fee-patient-ward/#commentsSun, 09 Feb 2014 23:31:03 +0000http://achonugandachildren.org/?p=794This week members of deceased AUCF Executive Director Jim Fee’s family will travel to Awake to visit the Kristina Health Center, meet with staff members and dedicate a new patient ward, which will be named for their husband, father and brother.

Jim’s wife Angela, sons David and Michael and brother Kevin will spend a week in Uganda. In addition to dedicating the new ward and supporting the clinic staff, Jim’s brother Kevin Fee, D.D.S., will perform essential dental work and set up a basic dental station.

Dr. Giovanni Cucchiaro will accompany the Fee family and will assess clinic operations, while author John Brant document much of the trip as he prepares to write a book about Julius and AUCF.

Angela, Michael and David wish to thank all AUCF supporters for their generosity, warm wishes and prayers as they embark on this trip.